New York City

Published July 15, 2018

With summer in full-swing, we’re trying everything we can to keep cool. Our favorite way? With an ice-cold smoothie (obviously). For this week’s #SmoothieSunday, we’re taste testing an antioxidant packed spinach and banana smoothie courtesy of Jess.

Read on to learn how to make it yourself, and find out how these ingredients work together to pack a healthful punch:

Spinach, cacao, and chia all provide a little something extra to this tasty treat.

We all know the health benefits of spinach are nearly countless. We’ll list a few, anyway. Spinach is a great source of Vitamin K, which helps your bones retain the calcium they need to stay strong. A few of the minerals found in spinach have the same effect: manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus can all be found in this leafy green, and they can all aid in bone mineralization, which helps to prevent osteoporosis. Spinach also contains CoQ10, a powerful antioxidant that improves heart health and works to prevent disease.

Our favorite part of this smoothie: the cacao nibs on top. Incorporating raw cacao adds a touch of sweetness to this recipe, but this tasty topper may have more benefits than you realize. Raw cacao is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods, containing 40 times the amount that is found in blueberries. It also contains phytonutrients, which help keep your blood healthy, and loads of iron.